275 words about a book.

Whoever you are, bear in mind that appearance is not reality. Some people act like extroverts, but the effort costs them in energy, authenticity, and even physical health.

I recently finished an advanced reading copy of Quiet by Susan Cain (on sale January 2012).

My thoughts while reading this book flipped between three groups. 

The self-absorbed: Oh, that’s me or Oh, that’s used to be me. 

The outward-looking: That’s an interesting view of society/types of people.

The story-teller: This is going to be a fascinating new way to look at developing characters and writing conflict.

This book has enough narrative and anecdotes that it’s an easy read, and an interesting one. Cain pulls on different studies and weaves them with each other and with personal stories. She’s a deft writer, really, and a sensitive one. You can tell she’s a coach in life, because that seeps into this book; it’s not pure psychology/sociology, but drifts into self-help territory, which I didn’t personally care for but didn’t mind.

I’d like to steal her term “socially-adept introvert” for myself. I think I’m pretty socially-adept these days, but it’s been a process. 

I have a number of scribbled notes in the back of the book. But I’m well aware that as an introvert I’m fascinated with my own thoughts and how the brain works, and that others are far less so. That’s kind of the point of this book. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, you should read it when it comes out. Or ask nicely and I’ll loan you my copy, if you promise not to read too much into what I underlined or noted.

Alternately, you could read way too much into it and we’ll get into a massive conversation and become best friends.